Carrier for cups and like receptacles



May 23, 1933.

Filed Aug. 15, 1931 INVENTOR 9% C ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STA DANIEL .0. moors, or new YORK, 1:. Y.

GARRIER FOR CUPS AND LIKE RECEPTACLES Application filed August 15, 1931. Serial No. 557,214.

This improvement relates to a novel device for carrying filled paper cups or similar receptacleswhen it is desired to take out drinks or beverages from soda fountains, bars or restaurants or other places, or to take out soups and other liquid or semi-liquid foods which may be transported in the ordinary paper cups or like receptacles, which ordinarily are not readily carried.'

At the beaches and along roadsides, customers frequently desire to carry drinks out to parties on the beach or waiting in cars, and it is something of a juggling proposition to do this with filled paper cups carried in the hands, the usual Way. Likewise, in taking out liquid foods and/or drinks from restaurants or eating places, paper cups or open receptacles are inconvenient and it is sometimes customary to deliver or carry the drinks out in cylindrical containers having a close-fitting cap cover, which is unhandy to carry and difiicult to open. Lidded cups or containers are frequently used for carrying drinks from soda fountains and bars, for which there is usually an additional charge for the container, but such containers are not so convenient to drink from; therefore, most patrons prefer to have the drinks served in the ordinary paper cup'. i It is to meet this preference of patrons for drinks served in the pa er cup that the pres ent improvement has been devised and, therefore, the'primary object of this improvement' is to provide a simple device that will readily and safely support filled paper cups or like receptacles and provide handy means for their transportation in sanitary condition and without the ordinary'hazards of spilling the contents.

A further object is to provide simple and efiicient means for covering the cup so as to properly protect the contents, while being transported, the cover or lid in the'present' instance being preferably formed as part of 'or as an integral portion of the carrier and so arranged 'as to be removed therewith and without difficulty when the carrier is open to removethe filled cup. With inserted lid cups and capped containers there is always difficulty in getting them open when filled, for fear of spilling the contents.

It is preferable to form the carrier from a single blank of paper, cardboard or similar material properly punched out and scored to be folded to form supports for the bottom and sides of the cup and to include the cover or lid for the receptacle and a suitable handle with a finger hold or openin for suspending and carrying the device. %uviously, lik in a pail, liquld in a suspended receptacle can be carried. more readily without spllling.

Another important feature of the improvement is the means emplo ed for locking the parts (supporting sidesg together so that there will be less-chance of the carrier coming open, thus preventing exposure of the contents of the cup and also facilitating holding theparts in closer contact. The preferred form of the locking means comprises av notched tongue piece punched out of one of the finger openings in the handle, although other locking devices may be arranged. It is also quite possible to do away with the special locking feature, for the finger openings in both sid pieces naturally hold the sides together.

One form of the improved receptacle carrier is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the carrier, with a cup enclosed therein; Fig. 2 is a vertical section, centrally of the carrier, which is shown partially open; Fig. 3 is a similar vertical section through the carrier in closed position over the cup; Fig. 4 is a side view of the carrier with the cup enclosed; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the closed carrier and Fig. 6 is a view of the single blank from which the receptacle carrier is formed.

Referring to the drawing, it willbe seen that the receptacle carrier is formed from a single blank, having a middle portion A. adapted to form the bottom of the carrier, this bottom portion being provided with. an opening B, which in thepresent instance, is shown as circular and adapted to fit an ordinary conical paper cup, (10 oz. or other size) such as is well known and used for serving drinks at soda fountains and other places where beverages are dispensed to the public. Obviously, if the cup or receptacle to be carried is of a shape other than round, that is, square or angular, the opening B should conform to'the shape of the bottom of 5 the receptacle.

The carrier blank (Fig. 6) is provided with intermediate portions 0, set off from the bottom portion by fold lines or scores D and from the side members E by fold lines or scores F. The side portions or members E, extending from the folds lines F are provided at their oute ends with handle portions G, set off by fol lines or scores H, as shown in Fig. 6.

The handle portions G are preferably rounded or curved at K and suitable holes L are punched therein to serve as a handle or finger hold for suspending and carrying the carrier. In orderto lock the side portions of the carrier together, any suitable locking means may be employed, but in the present instance one of the finger openings L is punched out with a tongue piece M, scored at N, to fold through'the other finger opening L and lock the two handle pieces and consequently,

the side members together, as shown in Figs.

1, 4 and 5. It will be seen that the lock is formed by providing the tongue piece M with notches at O and the finger openings L with inwardly 'projecting lugs P, which, when the locking tongue piece M is folded over, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6, constitutes a latch or lock to prevent separation of the handle pieces and side members.

In a receptacle carrier of this character, it is desirable to provide means for protecting the contents of the cup or receptacle from contamination while the filled receptacle is .being carried in the carrier and, in the present instance, it is found preferable to provide such a lid or cover as an integral part of the blank, from which the carrier is formed.

The side portions E of the blank are'required to be punched out at Q to permit the carrier to take an angular position over-the cup, as shown in Figs. 1' and 3, and to provide at R for the lateral support of the cup by the engagement of the edges of the opening with the walls of the cup. In punching out the opening Q, a part of th material'of these cut out portions are left attached at the score lines as a semi-circular tongue piece S, the fold lines H being thereby adapted to permit the tongue pieces S to be folded outward to form the lid or cover for the shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and thereby protect the contents during transportation. After the'carrier blank shown in Fig. 6 is formed,

the intermediate portions C are folded downward on th fold lines D, so as to raise the bottom A to the position. 'hown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the side portions or members E are reverse folded up against the intermediate portions C and secured thereto by staples or stitching T or other suitable means, as shown.

' packed and shipped flat.

tamination.

cup or receptacle, as

tom need not be integral and any other means of securing the bottom in elevated position on the side portions E may be employed.

, From the construction shown and described, it will be seen that after the cup carrier has been finished by stitching or otherwise fastening the intermediate portions C and side portions E together it will be collapsed flat, so that the carriers may be When, however, it is desired to insert a cup in the carrier for transporation, it is only necessary to open or place the side portions of the device or carrier in the position shown in Fig. 2, and the cup W can readily be inserted, after which the carrier may be closed'over the cup, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the side portions E take an angular position relative to the axis of the cup, and this is permitted by the openings Q, the side edges of which at R, as previously explained, will engage the walls of the cup and firmly support it, so that it cannot wobble or fall over in the supporting bottom opening B.

.An important feature of construction of the carrier is to provide the round opening B in the cup supporting bottom A of suific'ient size (diameter) to prevent the'cup from going through too far and resting on the table or support when the filled cup is placed in the. carrier. Substantially the proper spacing is shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, Fig. 3 being shown with a dotted line U representing the lower edges V of the carrier at the fold F. These lower ends V of the carrier, therefore, correspond to supporting feet for the carrier and when the cup is supported in the carrier, its bottom is above the plane of the bottom of the feet or edges V, as just described. In this manner, the cover or lid portions S are adapted to pass over the edges of the cup, from the position shown on' Fig. 2 to'the position shown in Fig. 3, where they will closely fit over the top or open end of the cup, and, since the cup is firmly supported in the bottom opening and by the side edges of the opening Q, the

contents of the cup will be thoroughly and completely protected from outside con- As previously pointed out, it is preferable to lock the side members of the carrier together, so as to keep the lid portions firmly and closely fitting the top ofthe cup or re cepta'cle', and for this purpose the locking tongue piece M is thrust through the opposite opening L in the handle portions and bent down into the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, so that the edges of the notches 0 stand in front of the lugs P and thereby prevent separation of the handle. portions until the locking tongue. M is thrown or pushed back through the opening L again.

The drawing shows a for a single cup, and the description has been confined to the single cup carrier, although the. construction has been duplicated in a single blank carrier capable of carrying two or more cups and such duplicate. cupcarriers for holding two cups have been constructed and used. Obviously, the construction is the same as shown in the accompanying drawing, except that the blank is proportionally en arged laterally to duplicate the bottom openings B, the side openings Q and lids S to accommodate two or more cups, as may be desired.

It will also be understood that'while the carrier has been shown and described ,as particularly designed for carrying a well known cups, similar carriers may be properly proportioned, as to measurements and openings, to support and carry other sizes and forms of cups or various types of receptacles, for all that is necessary is to change the shape or dimensions of the bottom openings B and of the side openings Q, and the shape of the lid portions S, withoother dimensions of the carrier arranged accordingly. For instance,

there is on the market a well known form of receptacle that is square in cross-section and it is proposed to use the carrier 'for transorting such receptacle when desired, and

or that purpose, the openings B and Q would be changed according to the shape and dimensions required and the lid or cover pontions S instead of being semi-circular, would be rectangular.

From the above,- it will be understood that the receptacle carrier shown and described is the preferred form, but obviously, various modifications in the arrangements of the parts and the size, shape and dimensions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1. A carrier for cups and like receptacles comprising a bottom support for the receptacle, side members extending upward from opposite sides of said bottom support, said side members having the upper ends thereof punched out to form handle openings, tongue-like flaps hinged to the side members and forming the two halves of a lid for covering the mouth of the receptacle, said hinged lid flaps lying normally in the planes of the sides but extending angularly thereof when covering the cup, and means formed by projecting edges 9n opposite sides of openings in said side members for engaging the walls of the receptacle between the lid -flaps and said bottom support.

2. A carrier for cups and like receptacles comprising a bottom member for supporting the receptacle, side members extending from opposite sides of the bottom member for suspending the latter, said side members beingprovided with openings, means formed brand of conically shaped smooth Wall'- said side portions in the carrier and finger handle portions continuous with the side members and located above said lid flaps.

3. Acarrier'for cups and like receptacles formed from a single punched blank, comprising a bottom portion, for supporting the receptacle, side portions extending from opposite sides of able into position for suspending, the latter,

being provided with substantially triangular openings, the base of the triangle being upwardly from and par-" allel with the bottom portion, means formed by the side edges of said openings for engaging the sides of a receptacle in the carrier,

semicircular lid flaps punched out of said side port1ons and integrally hinged thereto at the upper edges of said triangular openings, said flaps being arranged to ointly form a complete cover for the receptacle,

handle portions continuous with said side portions and extending above said lid flaps for carrying thecarrier and means for looking the side portions together over the receptacle, said side portions from the bottom portion to the handle portions lying angularly of the receptacle in the carrier.

4. A. carrier for cups and like receptacles formed from a single blank comprising a bottom portion having therein a socket openingfor supportin the receptacle, strips at opposite sides of t e bottom portion folded downward therefrom to formfeet below said bottom portion to support the'latter above the lower end ofthe-receptacle, side'rnembers continuous with said feet strips and reverse folded thereover to extend from said bottom portion upward angularly of the receptacle, said side members having openings through which the upper part of the recep tacle extends when the carrier is closed on the es of said openingsfor enthe bottom portion and foldreceptacle, means formed at the edges of said arranged to extend angularly of the side members and jointly form a cover for the receptacle in the carrier.

6.' A carrier for cups and like receptacles comprising a punched blank having a middle portion forming the bottom of the carrier, said bottom portion having a socket opening for support of the'receptacle, feet portions extending from opposite ends of said bottom portion and foldable downward therefrom to support the bottom portion in elevated position, side portions reverse folded on and extending from said feet portions, means for securing said feet portions and the reverse folded side portions together, half lid flaps hinged to the respective side portions and jointly forming a cover for the receptacle in the carrier, handle portions at the ends of said side portions arranged to assume an angle tothe latter when brought together over the receptacle, said handle portions having finger openings to facilitate carrying the carrier.

7 The carrier for cups and like receptacles as in claim '6, wherein said side portions are provided with openings from which said half lid flaps are punched and through which the receptacle to be carried extends and means formed by the edges of said openings for engaging and supporting the upper part of the receptacle in the carrier.

8. A paper cup carried formed from a single blank, comprising a bottom portion having an opening in which the cup is supported,.- feet portions extending from opposite sides of said bottom portion to form feet to support said bottom portion above the lower end of a cup in the carrier, side portions continuous with said feet portions and reverse folded thereover, thereby doubling the thickness of the supporting feet, said side portions extending above the bottom portion, ineans such as stitching or the like for securing the side portions to the feet portions, said side portions being provided with openings through which the upper part of a cup in the carrier projects, means formed at the edges of the openings in said side portions for engaging and supporting the walls of the cup, half lid flaps formed integral with the respective side portions, and hinged in the openings therein, said flaps forming jointly a cover for the cup. handle portions integral with said side portions and extending therefrom above said lid flaps and means for securing said handle portions together centrally over the cup, the arrangement being such that with a cup in the carrier said feet and side portions are in planes which extend angularly from the bottom portion to the meeting ,of said sideportionswith said handle portions in the middle plane of the cup.

DANIEL C. JACOBS. 

